UMGC in Europe professor empowers adult and military learners through mentorship and authenticity
A little more than six years ago, LaShawn Thompson, PhD, boarded her first international flight to Germany—not for a vacation, but to begin a new chapter as Collegiate Professor of Psychology with University of Maryland Global Campus (UMGC) in Europe. It was the kind of leap she now encourages her students to embrace in their own lives.
“I tell people, ‘You only need moments of braveness. Youdon'thave to be a brave person; you just need these moments where you say yes.’ And then that sometimes ends up being the thingthat'sa big determinant of how your life goes,” said Thompson.
SpotlightingauthenticityinUMGC psychology classes
Today, Thompson teaches psychology, counseling, and social sciences courses, bringing the same authenticity to the classroom that guided her across the Atlantic.
“I've gotten to the point in my career where I can afford to be authentic,” Thompson said, explaining that she builds that experience for her students from the first moments in the classroom.Her approach reflects UMGC’s commitment to meetinglearnerswhere they are and supporting them throughlife’stransitions.
“From the first day I like to set the tone of the classroom. Ilike forus to get to know each other, and I do that through discussion and engagement.And sometimes[for students]it can seem a little weird because, ‘Here'sthe first day of class and she's not teaching psychology.’And actually,Iam, they justdon'tknow that I am teaching it.”
That early focus on connection is foundational to creating a learning environment where students feel supported as they balance careers, family, and military commitments.“The first thing in creating that safe environment is letting them get used to me, letting them get to know me personally so that I'm just not another talking head,” Thompson said.
Thompson, who earned her bachelor’s, master’s and PhD at the University of Southern Mississippi, knows well the level of commitment it takes to succeed in the field, and she works to prepare students for it, sometimes before they even become students.
She’sknown for talking to high school students interested in psychology about the academic journey ahead. UMGC’sBachelor of Science in Psychologyprogram supports pathways into careers incounseling-adjacent roles, human services, human resources, and education, or preparation for graduate studies in psychology and related fields; Thompson encourages students to think about their path as early aspossible, andserves as a mentor during the process.
Mentoring beyond the classroom
Her mentoring sometimes unfolds in unexpected ways.
“I have a [prospective] student thatI'mmentoring in Texas thatI'venever met.At all.I’venever seen herface,” Thompson said. But through a casual conversation at a dinner following a conference speaking engagement, Thompson found herself chatting with a social work student interested in psychology. Several months later, the student emailed Thompson to introduce her new assistant, who was interested in UMGC’s psychology program and looking for a mentor.
“I've been mentoring her eversince,and she is working on her paperwork now to get into UMGC,” said Thompson. “To me, that’s the greatest example of being authentic everywhere I am;even at the dinner table at somebody else’s event, I’m still who I am.”
Working closely with students in or affiliated with the military,Thompson’s guidance often involves helping learners navigate frequent transitions. One student whose wife was being deployed to Korea asked for Thompson’s help in shifting his program to social work. “We worked on that [academic plan] and then he came to my class one day and said,‘Dr.Thompson, we're going to Hawai’i, I think I could do psychology again.’AndI said,‘Okay, send me the program, let me look at it.We'llwork that one up too.’”
Choosing braveness
Looking back on her transatlantic adventure,Thompsonencouragesher studentsthinkingabouta career in psychologyto choose braveness.
“Ifit'ssomething that you think you want to do, well, we all havechallenges.As long aswe start thinking ahead and planning, then we can get it done.”
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